Pakistan Super League 2022

Watch: ‘Serious wheels’ – Teenage PSL speedster snares Babar Azam with cracking delivery that jumps off pitch

by Wisden Staff February 15, 2022 - 11:05am 2 minute read

Watch: 19-year-old rookie Pakistani speedster Zeeshan Zameer produced a cracking delivery that sprung sharply off the pitch to dismiss Babar Azam during a PSL game between Islamabad United and Karachi Kings.

Zameer, fresh from Pakistan’s U19 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean last month, was playing only his second PSL game on Monday, having made his T20 debut in Lahore two nights before. Opening the bowling for Islamabad, Zameer saw Babar hit him for two fours on either side of the pitch, giving away nine runs from his first over.

With Babar looking in fine touch, Zameer returned for his second over: off the first ball, Waqas Maqsood, at short fine-leg, failed to latch on to a top-edge off Sharjeel Khan’s bat. There was a bigger fish lying in wait though.

With Babar back on strike, Zameer continued with his short of length offering around the off-stump. His second ball had enough venom in it to spring off the pitch and surprise Babar with steep bounce with the Pakistan captain merely poking at the delivery. The ball caught the outside edge and settled in Azam Khan’s gloves, giving Zameer his maiden PSL –and T20 – wicket.

Zameer couldn’t continue for much longer though, and had to walk off following a side strain. Despite the premature exit, plenty of praise came his way, including some from former West Indies quick and now commentator, Ian Bishop.